SIKSA, Pakistan, Sept 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – When a pipeline was installed last year to bring spring water and snowmelt to this village of 500 households in northern Pakistan, it brought something else as well: peace.
She estimates the system now channels over 5 billion litres of water a year – and ensures a water supply year-round.
“That can only be achieved by providing mountain communities with a reliable source of water in the right quantity and at the right time,” Khan said.
Sakina, who like most villagers uses just one name, said that until a few years ago water was abundant, with heavy winter snow meaning plenty of water flowed even in summer.
That meant less water for irrigation and less crops and income,” she said.
But since the water storage tank was installed, “all these fields have become green again”, she said, pointing to terraced fields where tomatoes, aubergine, okra and pumpkin grow against a backdrop of towering, bare-sloped mountains.
“We would have to go fetch water in plastic containers from springs higher up in the mountains, which would take hours, then use it sparingly to wash clothes and for cooking and drinking.
A reliable supply of water also has allowed villagers for the first time in year to sell a surplus of vegetables grown in the nearby market towns of Khaplu and Skardu, Khan said.
Villagers also have planted fruit trees – meaning better nutrition and higher incomes, Khan said.
Khan said the previous government had pushed for more tree planting and provided villagers with free popular saplings, which will also become a new source of income as they grow.

In early June, I am standing outside of a home in Kabul, Afghanistan, watching a large drilling machine parked on what was once a lovely garden, now a muddy patch.
Soon workers arrive for another noisy, dusty day of digging for water.
The well dried up a week ago.
As of today, the household, home to several members of the group Afghan Peace Volunteers, has no water.
The current population, estimated around 4.5 million, is expected to reach 9 million by 2050.
The estimated groundwater potential is enough to supply only 2 million inhabitants with water.
Alarming reports say that drought now afflicts 20 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.
It’s difficult to imagine that Afghanistan, already burdened by 40 years of war, will escape eventual water wars.
Despite spending hundreds of billions of dollars on non-military aid to Afghanistan, the United States has done little to improve Afghanistan’s infrastructure or alleviate its alarming water crisis.
On May 13, a single-file procession of Pashto men started off on a 400-mile trek along dusty roads from Helmand to Kabul, to call for the Afghan government and the warring parties to end the war.

For Palestinian communities that suffer water shortages and require Israeli approval to increase pumping of shared natural water resources, an agreement to increase water sales from Israel to the Palestinian Authority by 50 percent annually will dramatically improve lives and livelihoods without creating water shortages on the Israeli side.
This work to mediate peace through Israeli-Palestinian water sharing should be commended and continued.
The United States clearly recognizes the importance of international water security, having recently released its Global Water Strategy, which coordinates the work of 16 U.S. government agencies and private partners.
A logical next step, beyond water sales, would be to negotiate a fair allocation of the natural water resources that Israelis and Palestinians share, thus solving one of the core issues plaguing the peace process.
However, both sides have shortsightedly refused to negotiate over natural water reallocation, wanting any water deal to remain part of a negotiation on other final-status issues, like borders and refugees.
Israeli politicians insist that a better water deal for the Palestinians must be matched by Palestinian compromises on refugees.
In the West Bank, some 60 million cubic meters of untreated sewage pollute the Mountain and Coastal Aquifers, streams and the Mediterranean Sea annually.
In Gaza, the flood of untreated sewage is so great that groundwater is no longer potable, and most beaches in Gaza and some in neighboring Israel have been forced to close.
Advancing regional water projects such as a master plan for the development of water and sanitation in the Jordan Valley, and an increased water trade that does not sacrifice water rights, present more opportunities to help stabilize the situation.
Conversely, the sustainability of any Middle East peace agreement will be compromised if water resources are not allocated fairly and managed efficiently.

(Gidon Bromberg, Nada Majdalani and Munqeth Mehyar are the co-directors of EcoPeace Middle East.
For Palestinian communities that suffer water shortages and require Israeli approval to increase pumping of shared natural water resources, an agreement to increase water sales from Israel to the Palestinian Authority by 50 percent annually will dramatically improve lives and livelihoods without creating water shortages on the Israeli side.
This work to mediate peace through Israeli-Palestinian water sharing should be commended and continued.
The United States clearly recognizes the importance of international water security, having recently released its Global Water Strategy, which coordinates the work of 16 U.S. government agencies and private partners.
A logical next step, beyond water sales, would be to negotiate a fair allocation of the natural water resources that Israelis and Palestinians share, thus solving one of the core issues plaguing the peace process.
Israeli politicians insist that a better water deal for the Palestinians must be matched by Palestinian compromises on refugees.
As long as all agree that negotiating over water rights involves cross-border waters (the Coastal Aquifer lies beneath parts of Israel and all of Gaza, the Mountain Aquifer underlies Israel and the West Bank, and the Jordan River shares borders) borders, settlements, refugees, and security arrangements are not issues that must be determined in advance of a water agreement.
In Gaza, the flood of untreated sewage is so great that groundwater is no longer potable, and most beaches in Gaza and some in neighboring Israel have been forced to close.
Advancing regional water projects such as a master plan for the development of water and sanitation in the Jordan Valley, and an increased water trade that does not sacrifice water rights, present more opportunities to help stabilize the situation.
Conversely, the sustainability of any Middle East peace agreement will be compromised if water resources are not allocated fairly and managed efficiently.

As the conflict continues to claim victims on both sides, it’s important to point out that when President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt, was looking for an early success in the new administration’s peace efforts, he found it – in water.
For Palestinian communities that suffer water shortages and require Israeli approval to increase pumping of shared natural water resources, an agreement to increase water sales from Israel to the Palestinian Authority by 50 percent annually will dramatically improve lives and livelihoods without creating water shortages on the Israeli side.
For example, the draft Taylor Force Act, which prohibits American aid to the West Bank and Gaza, does not exempt water programs.
How might cuts to U.N.
The United States clearly recognizes the importance of international water security, having recently released its Global Water Strategy, which coordinates the work of 16 U.S. government agencies and private partners.
For the Palestinian government, the priority is to increase water provision to meet basic needs, supporting economic growth as well as its aspirations for a state with the right to access and develop its own resources.
Today 70 percent of Israel’s drinking water is produced through desalinization and 85 percent of its wastewater is treated and reused to meet agricultural needs.
A logical next step, beyond water sales, would be to negotiate a fair allocation of the natural water resources that Israelis and Palestinians share, thus solving one of the core issues plaguing the peace process.
However, both sides have shortsightedly refused to negotiate over natural water reallocation, wanting any water deal to remain part of a negotiation on other final-status issues, like borders and refugees.
Israeli politicians insist that a better water deal for the Palestinians must be matched by Palestinian compromises on refugees.

Freshwater is a life-supporting resource.
By digging deeper wells and overexploiting river resources, combined with irrigation subsidies, Asia is accelerating water resource depletion and environmental degradation.
TRANSBOUNDARY PROBLEM Water contamination until now has been mainly a domestic issue, as highlighted by the pollution problems affecting the Yellow River in China and the Ganges in India.
But the contamination of the Siang signals that this problem is becoming a transboundary issue.
Beijing has withheld hydrological data from New Delhi on upstream river flows in 2017 in breach of two bilateral accords.
This undermined India’s flood early-warning systems during the critical monsoon season.
The region also exemplifies another important trend — that dams and democracy do not go well together.
Dam building has run into major grassroots opposition in Asian democracies like Japan, South Korea and India, driving up project costs and acting as a damper on hydropower expansion.
Indeed, China has become the global leader in dam building, boasting more large dams than the rest of the world combined.
Several other developments are also undermining Asia’s hydrological and climatic stability and fostering a cycle of chronic flooding and droughts.

Earth Day-cum-capacity building programme held in SCHSS.
Peace Club of St. Clare Higher Secondary School (SCHSS) Kacharigaon observed Earth day-cum-capacity building on peace building under the theme “Peace building through preservation of environment.” Speaking on the occasion Suzane Kulnu exhorted the youth to be the messenger of peace in conflict situations.
She said, “Earth Day” was a day to educate people on the environmental, health, security and economic impacts of climate change as well as the opportunities and benefits that open up in the new green economy.
She further shared some practical tips for caring our common home, issue of water pollution and its effective management, preserving and protecting environment.
She concluded with a pledge to honour, respect, protect and cherish the Earth.
Patrick.
W. Tungoe, staff of Peace Channel encouraged the students to be a channel of peace in their own locality and community and take Peace as their life mission in transforming the culture of violence to culture of peace.
Alan Paul, speaking on Self Discovery said, to succeed in life one needed to know and understand one’s strengths and weaknesses.
Self discovery was the first step to the ladder of success, he added.
The program was attended by ninety two students and concluded with vote of thanks by animator Peace Club, FCC, Sr. Clare Jose.